Sounds as if business has finally picked up regarding the FX Network’s adaptation of Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s vampire epic The Strain. The first lead has been cast, and we expect more to be announced shortly.

Corey Stoll (pictured; “House of Cards”) has been tapped as the lead of FX’s high-profile drama project “The Strain” from filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and veteran showrunner Carlton Cuse (“Lost,” “Bates Motel”). “The Strain,” an adaptation of del Toro’s vampire novel trilogy, formally has a pilot order, but FX president John Landgraf has indicated it is being eyed for a series order. The project already has a full writing staff in place churning out scripts, and per Deadline, FX has committed $500,000 to creature creation.

Del Toro will direct the pilot from a script he co-wrote with Chuck Hogan, who also co-authored the books with del Toro. Cuse, who helped develop the adaptation, executive produces alongside del Toro and will serve as showrunner, overseeing the potential series with del Toro. Hogan and del Toro’s longtime manager/producing partner Gary Ungar also serve as exec producers of the project, produced by FX Prods.

“The Strain” is a high-concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Stoll), the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers wage war for the fate of humanity itself.

“To me, having the right lead for ‘The Strain’ series was perhaps the most important creative task,” said del Toro. “To be able to secure the perfect actor in Corey Stoll sets the project on the right track. To embody a character like Ephraim Goodweather – who transitions through every emotion and situation imaginable and which anchors the narrative of the series – requires amazing talent and craft. Corey has both in spades as he has demonstrated it over and over again.”

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They had damn well better fix the third book. Amazing first book, decent second book, then completely flew to pieces on the finale. Characters suddenly start betraying every bit of personality two books have established, motives go in the toilet, just chaos and mayhem slapped together into a sloppy half-assed wrap-up.